Pet Rats: Understanding Common Rat Behavior and Body Language - A Rat /People dictionary

I'm about to take you" behind the scenes" into the rat mind. You could say this is a Rat /People dictionary on Rat behavior.

If you pay careful attention to the things I'm about to reveal to you, you'll definitely have more success with your pet rat.

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Firstly...what's a Rat Stare?

Pet Rats: Understanding Common Rat Behavior and Body Language - A Rat /People dictionary

What's a Rat Stare I hear you ask?

Do your rats have a disturbing habit? Do they stare straight ahead for long periods of time?

Is it rather unnerving to see them staring, unmoving, with their eyes wide open for hours on end.

Do your ratties see dead people? Is it a sixth sense thing?

Don't fret your not the only one. For anyone that's owns(ed) a rat this is this normal rat behavior.

The Rat Stare and other rat behavior's and body language are explained in this issue.

Pet owners often speak to their "babies" in human baby talk, but as with any animal (as smart as they are!) you're probably better off understanding your rats' behavior by their body language. With rats in particular, there are telltale signs that they will demonstrate, and that you will be able to interpret successfully.

The following are some of the typical things that owners of pet rats have witnessed their buddies doing from time to time. Some are funny, some may be a little frightening...but rest assured that most of it is just your usual rattie's behavior!

Note: these rat behaviors are generally perfectly normal of rats that are healthy and well socialized, with no current, apparent medical problems (they are active and their diets and bowel movements are normal). If your rat isn't eating right, has improper bowel movements or is demonstrating other unusual or destructive behavior - consult a small animal vet or your rats' breeder immediately.

Body Language -

Your one rat curls up its tail (while your other rat doesn't)

Possible Reasons:

Your rat is simply balancing itself. A rat's tail is for balance - even if one rat seems to use their tail more. Watch and you'll see both rats keep their tails ½" off the ground, particularly when they are balancing on your shoulder or climbing up to a higher space.

Body Language -

Your rat stands up and 'swings' its nose in the air Your rat sways its head from side to side.

Possible Reasons:

Your rat is catching a whiff! Rats have incredible senses of smell, and they are just identifying something in the air that is intriguing to them.

Rats don't have superior vision. Never fear, your rat can see - but sight isn't it's strongest sense, making this normal behavior part of your rat's vision process.

Body Language -

Your rat is licking you all the time.

Your rat is grinding their teeth in your ear!

Your rat's eyeballs are bugging out of their head!

Possible Reasons:

Face it - you're one big rat to them!

That's actually a big compliment to you, and all of those behaviors (teeth "bruxing" and eye 'boggling') mean that your rat loves you and will try to groom you like a true companion (they probably also like the taste of salt of your skin!).

These are some common rat behaviors and rat body language people have questions about, and experienced with their pet rat. These explanations I have provided will guarantee to help you understand your little buddy(s) and ensure you are a successful rat owner.

Pet Rats: Understanding Common Rat Behavior and Body Language - A Rat /People dictionary

Diana Davidson is author of a new neat book on pet rat care which is a great resource that contains information you wouldn’t find at your local library. For lots more pet rat care information, tips, quirky and interesting facts, and answers to your questions visit Diana’s site at [http://www.rattiesecrets.com/].

3 Ways to Avoid Noisy Cat Behavior Problems

Many cat owners interpret excessive meowing to be a behavior problem. While it may indicate an issue, there are 3 factors to consider when evaluating noisy cat behavior problems.

First, if you are not one to want a cat that's noisy, be sure to do your research as to the particular breed before adopting a new cat. Different breeds have naturally different vocalization tendencies. (Siamese cats for example, tend to vocalize more.)

Cat Dog Pet

If you do not have a noisy cat, and the excessive noise is something new that your cat has never done before, he/she is trying to tell you something, and it's best to first rule out a medical issue by taking him or her to the vet to get checked.

3 Ways to Avoid Noisy Cat Behavior Problems

Second, assuming it is not something medical, some cats vocalize in reaction to some kind of change or transition in its environment. Consider things from your cat's point of view. If you've moved, changed your normal routine, changed their food, have different people living with you or visiting, or have recently lost someone (including another pet), the cat maybe experiencing this "noisy cat behavior" because it is simply expressing his or her grief. Normally changing things back (as feasible) will help to end the noisy cat behavior problem, but in the absence of being able to revert back to the prior situation, extra love, playtime and attention will also help to ease the transition.

Lastly, as with any pet training, it is especially important when addressing noisy cat behavior problems, that you reward the good behavior to promote it, and avoid punishing bad behavior (or excessive noise) at all costs. That being said, if you don't want a cat that's noisy, ignore him/her as possible when he or she is vocalizing, and reward him or her with love, treats and playtime when they are not vocalizing. Cats, like dogs, do learn from positive reinforcement, whereas punishment often creates additional problems.

Remember your cat is using its voice for a reason, and it may not always indicate a problem. In fact, from my experience from working in a veterinarian's office, many noisy cat behavior problems resolve quickly with the right attention from their owners.

3 Ways to Avoid Noisy Cat Behavior Problems

If your cat's behavior doesn't seem positive and isn't caused by a medical issue, another option is to understand the way your cat thinks. By getting inside the mind of your cat, you're more likely to get to the root of the behavior problem and be better able to resolve it quickly so that you no longer have to worry about noisy cat behavior problems.

Hang in there and always approach the cat with the love, respect and patience it deserves. http://www.EndCatBehaviorIssues.com